Narrative Writing dialogue writing tips

1. Writing Dialogue
Allowing your characters to speak

2. Model and Practice
• This power point will guide you through the 5
rules of dialogue
• Fill in the rules on your Writing Dialogue notes
sheet
• Practice creating dialogue with your story
characters using the practice dialogue sheet

3. Procedure
• Select two characters from your story to write a
scene in dialogue with – Put their names on the
practice sheet
• On each slide read the rule
• Fill in the blanks on your writing dialogue notes
sheet
• Look at the example
• Create an example of that rule on your practice
sheet
• Turn in the practice sheet when it is completed

4. Rule #1
Begin your conversation by setting the stage:
“Outside the cafeteria the librarian, Mrs.
LeMahieu, caught up with the language arts
teacher, Mrs. Ochalek.

5. Rule #2
• A change in speaker starts a new indented paragraph.
Mrs. LeMahieu yelled out, “Hey Mrs. Ochalek I have
the book you ordered!”
Mrs. Ochalek looked behind her and called over her
shoulder, “Great! I have been waiting for it.”
“Do you want me to bring it to your room?” Mrs.
LeMahieu remarked, now that she was standing next to
Mrs. Ochalek. “Or are you going to come and pick it
up?”
“I think I will come and get it. Are you going that
way now? We could walk together,” Mrs. Ochalek
said.

6. Rule #3
• End punctuation always goes inside the
punctuation marks.
“Is it a fiction book?” asked Mrs. Ochalek.

7. Rule #4
• If the quotes contain a statement you put a
comma inside the quotes if you will need to
add information after the quote.
“No this is a non-fiction account of the
events,” replied Mrs. LeMahieu.

8. Rule #5
• Include narrative description between spoken
lines by the same speaker to allow your reader to
see and hear the conversation.
Upon reaching the library Mrs. Ochalek
commented, “That is a great display.” Inside the
library door Mrs. LeMahieu had created a
towering display of new books, complete with
colored author cards and book reviews. “You
could have a career in interior design,” Mrs.
Ochalek commented.

9. Drafting and Revising
• Use your notes and practice to include some
scene writing dialogue to the bit by bit areas
or your story!